Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield named the AP Player of the Year

by RALPH D. RUSSO, Associated Press

FILE-In this Oct. 7, 2017, file photo, Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) leaps over Iowa State defensive back De’Monte Ruth, bottom, in the second quarter of an NCAA college football game in Norman, Okla. Baker Mayfield is the AP player of the year, becoming the fourth Oklahoma quarterback to win the award since it was established in 1998. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)

NEW YORK (AP) —

Baker Mayfield is The Associated Press college football Player of the Year, becoming the fourth Oklahoma quarterback to win the award since it was established in 1998.

Mayfield easily outpointed Stanford running back Bryce Love, who came in second. Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson, the other finalist and last year’s Heisman Trophy winner, was third in the award announced Thursday.

Mayfield received 51 first-place votes from the 56 AP college football poll voters who submitted player of the year ballots, and a total of 157 points. Love (83 points) and Jackson (39 points) each received two first-place votes and Penn State running Saquon Barkley received a first-place vote and came in fourth.

Mayfield, Love and Jackson are also the finalists for the Heisman, which will be handed out Saturday night in New York.

Mayfield is a former walk-on who has led the No. 2 Sooners to the College Football Playoff, where they will play No. 3 Georgia in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1. Mayfield leads the nation in passer efficiency rating and has thrown for 4,340 yards and 41 touchdowns.

He joins Josh Heupel (2000), Jason White (2003) and Sam Bradford (2008) as previous winners from Oklahoma. No other school has had more than two players win AP Player of the Year.

“I’m on this awards trip right now with a lot of great players from OU and other schools, and every one of them deserves to be recognized. To receive this award is an honor and it’s something just a few years ago I never thought would happen,” Mayfield said. “Obviously I’m very happy and thankful that I’m being recognized with this.”

Mayfield played high school football in Austin, Texas, but did not receive a scholarship offer from the Longhorns. He was at Texas Tech, and played as a freshman, but ended up transferring to Oklahoma. With the Sooners, he has become a three-year starter and one of the most productive passers in college football history.

He has 129 career touchdown passes and 14,320 yards.

The AP award is the first of what could be several won by Mayfield. He was in Atlanta for the ESPN’s college football awards show at the Hall of Fame. Mayfield is up for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, Maxwell Award and Davey O’Brien Award. He is also a finalist for the Manning Award.